Warfarin

[neomiferdy]

Hi i m taking warfarin now for one month for LV thrombus. The warfrin level is not going up. I m following the right diet for warfarin. Please help me.

[Jalia]

You are new to Warfarin and it can take some weeks to get into . your target range. You will normally be monitored by your Warfarin clinic and they will adjust the dosage depending on the result of your blood test....your INR ( International normalised ratio).

Please remember that once you are in your target range , as far as your diet goes, the key is consistency ie do not binge on certain food groups. Be patient and follow the guidelines you will have been given.

Hope this helps. (I've been taking Warfarin for about 31 years with no problems.)

[jeanjeannie50]

I agree totally with Jalia's sensible advice.

What dose of Warfarin are you taking?

Jean

[neomiferdy in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Right now increased to 10mg from 8.5mg. As my INR came down from 2.4 to 1.4.

[BenHall1 in reply to neomiferdy]

It doesn't drop that much without reason .... any changes to your diet ? both food and alcohol ?? So what were your original instructions and doses for Warfarin. What was your original INR range ? Were you ever given a loading dose of Warfarin when you were first put on Warfarin ?

I have just returned to Warfarin having spent 4 months or so on Edoxaban - the latter gave me unwelcome side effects. As a matter of consolation for you my readings were ......

6 April = 1.3

7 April = 1.1

8 April = 1.2

9 April = 1.3

10 April = 1.7

11 April = 1.9

12 April = 2.0

13 April = 2.4

14 April = 2.7

15 April = 2.7

16 April = 2.8

Just spoken to my INR Nurse who is keeping me on my current dose for another 1 week ( in case there are any gremlins at play ). My current dose is 4mg one day and 5mg next day. Hope that helps.

As a matter of interest, I'd been on Warfarin for 12 years before going on Edoxaban. In that time I'd also had 4 surgical proceedures, involving me stopping and restarting Warfarin.

Jalia is spot on.

John

[neomiferdy in reply to BenHall1]

Thank you for the reply. Its one month ago. that i was put on 5mg warfarin. It has to be increased due to slow climb and was in 8.5mg. Now with the drastic down yesterday i started 10mg. I m taking antibioti c for a bacterial infection for the last three month. Another two weeks to go. GP says cephalexin i m taking does not interfere with warfarin. I m so confused. Diet is done according to warfarin guidelines. I

[Cavalierrubie in reply to neomiferdy]

I think it’s the antibiotics that are causing the problem. If l have antibiotics it brings my INR down from 2.7/8. To 1.8. I was led to believe that all antibiotics affect your INR. Have you asked your INR nurse? I think once you discontinue your antibiotics it should be ok, but could take couple weeks to get there.

[neomiferdy in reply to BenHall1]

Thank you

[BobD Volunteer]

OK so I was busy earlier but Jalia has it 100%

[etheral]

Personally I would ask to be switched to NOAC such as apixaban and not have to worry about keeping a therapeutic INR. Best etheral

[neomiferdy in reply to etheral]

Thank you

[Neil2020]

Another 👍 for Jalia’s advice.

I was taking Apixaban for a few years but had two more suspected DVT’s and was told the only thing stronger is Warfarin. I’ve been back in that for about 3-4 years. Currently alternate 5 or 6mg daily for target of 3.5. I seemed sensitive to it to begin with but it has settled down. Always ask the INR Team or Haematologist if you are worried.

[neomiferdy in reply to Neil2020]

Thank you

[Neil2020 in reply to neomiferdy]

Sorry, I also meant to add good luck, it can be worrying so it’s good to the facts. All the best v

[BenHall1]

Hi,

Following your original post ......... and all the variety of comments that followed.

Just enquiring how you are going with Warfarin now and what is happening with your doses and your INR. Hope all is well.

John

[neomiferdy in reply to BenHall1]

Hi many thanks. My INR is stuck at 1.8 for the last three days. GP increased it to 10.5. Not sure what the cause. I m finishing my antibiotics for viral infection in 8 days time. Not sure whether the medication is interfering. GP says no. I m doing my best with the diet. Keeping fingers crossed and trusting in my Faith.

[BenHall1 in reply to neomiferdy]

Hi,

Well, that is good news, heading the correct way. Stay with it, you'll get there, be patient 😂

Its a funny beastie is Warfarin and it can drive you crazy looking for the why's and wherefores. As far as your antibiotics goes, time will tell. That aside though, I've been on this forum since early 2010 ( including the older format hosted by Yahoo ) and often this issue with Warfarin has cropped up. Based on all these posts I rather think it just a feature of how your body is reacting ( we all react differently to drugs ).

On the reading I've done there are many folk on Warfarin who are taking Warfarin doses even higher than 15mg. The most important thing is this ......... all the time its going down your neck and absorbed by your body you are being protected. Stop taking it and you aren't .......... it's a given then you'll have a problem. I think .... for example, if you could take a sample of my blood ( taking 4 and 5 mg on alternative days ) and a sample of yours on 10.5mg - only then would you find a reason - and it isn't worth the angst of doing that. As long as you are taking it it is doing its job for you. The longer you stay with it the better your protection it becomes.

It really isn't the number of mg's you are taking it's the fact you are taking it. Unlike the new anticoagulants Warfarin is a 70 years old tried and tested drug and healthcare practioners will be well acquainted with folk such as yourself. Probably better acquainted than with the newer ones.

Please stay in touch and let us know how many mg's you are on when you hit 2.0 - I'm assuming your INR range is between 2.0 and 3.0.

John

[neomiferdy in reply to BenHall1]

Yes john.. Thanks for your reply. Going for a blood test tomorrow. Will keep posting.